PRIORITY MOST IMMEDIATE

I have given to the press the following statement begins:

Australia to a man stands solidly behind Great Britain in this
war. The Australian people were proud to be associated with
British and Greek troops in the Balkan sector of war. Even if this
particular military operation does not bring the success we would
have liked it to bring it cannot be emphasised too strongly that
Australia is fighting this war as one of an Empire team. To the
Australian that means that we will pull our full weight until
final victory comes; there is not now and there never will be
while Australians are Australians any half-hearted allegiance to a
cause to which we have given our support.

There will be other battles in this war and Australians in the
Navy, Army and Air Force will seek to play their full part
alongside their brothers from Great Britain and our sister
Dominions. Parliament will meet in Australia early next month to
decide how best we can make a greater war effort than anything we
have hitherto achieved.

In making this emphatic declaration I know that I am speaking for
the Australian people and for all parties in the national
Parliament. In the ordinary course I would not need to make such
statements because they are not called in question by Australians.

But at present there is an intense German propaganda drive in
progress in which an attempt is being made to tell German people
and neutral countries that trouble has arisen between Great
Britain and Australia. The German propagandists should try another
line because the propaganda I have mentioned must fail: it is
untrue. Statement ends. [1]

FADDEN